Reds keeping Virgil
> Klopp ready to revive RM330 million pursuit of Saints star
LIVERPOOL ARE ready to revive their £60 million (RM330m) move for Virgil van Dijk after the defender went public with an incendiary transfer request.
Van Dijk has accused his club Southampton of leaking his private conversations and claims he has been unjustly fined two weeks’ wages for an alleged disciplinary breach.
The Holland defender added he was “insulted” by the suggestion he had refused to train in order to force through a move away from St Mary’s.
Van Dijk, 26, has now called on Southampton to allow him to go, saying he needs to be playing European football.
Liverpool are the favourites to buy Van Dijk, who is understood to prefer a move to Anfield over Chelsea, who are focusing their efforts on signing Serge Aurier from Paris Saint-Germain.
A £60 million deal to take the Dutchman to Merseyside looked likely at the start of the summer, but Liverpool withdrew their interest in June and apologised after Southampton asked for an investigation into a suspected illegal approach.
No sanctions were imposed on Liverpool by the Premier League, with Saints understood to be satisfied with the apology.
However, Van Dijk, who signed a six-year contract in May 2016, has become increasingly disaffected with life at Southampton, and was left out of their pre-season tour of France because he was not in the right frame of mind to play, according to manager Mauricio Pellegrino.
In a lengthy statement, the defender confirmed he had submitted a transfer request after learning the club were fining him.
He added: “Over the past six months I have held numerous discussions with representatives of the board, the former manager Claude Puel as well as the new manager Mauricio Pellegrino to inform them all of my desire to leave the club in search of a new challenge.
“I have been left frustrated by the club’s position that I am not for sale and am disappointed that enquiries from multiple top clubs have been consistently rebuffed.
“I have consistently relayed my feelings to senior management at Southampton in what I believed to be private and personal conversations.
“Disappointingly, these conversations have regularly found their way into the media.”
Pellegrino ordered Van Dijk to train away from the rest of the squad last month after declaring the defender was not in a fit psychological state to play.
But Van Dijk has responded angrily to suggestions he refused to train.
He said: “I would also like to make clear I have never once refused to train.
“I can confirm I was asked about my frame of mind and for all of the reasons mentioned above I was open and honest in saying that I did not feel I was in a settled mindset given the circumstances.
“Following this conversation, the manager explained that he only wanted players who he felt were 100 per cent committed to Southampton and told me I would therefore have to train away from the first team.
“As a proud professional I am insulted by the suggestion that it was me who refused to train and so feel it is important to point out the true version of events.
“I had very much hoped to retain the good relationship I’ve always enjoyed with everyone at the club, especially the fans, but unfortunately in light of everything that’s happened this has now been seriously affected.” – Express Newspapers